Anne O'Brien
@anneobrienauthor.bsky.social
Writer of historical novels celebrating often invisible and silent medieval women who deserve a face and a voice.
Sunday Times Best Seller
New Novel for February 2025: The Queen and the Countess
Sunday Times Best Seller
New Novel for February 2025: The Queen and the Countess
Pinned
The Queen and the Countess is now out in the wild, alive and well. Thank you for all the kind wishes on Paperback Publication Day.
I will be running a giveaway shortly, so if you enjoy medieval fiction keep an eye open ...
I will be running a giveaway shortly, so if you enjoy medieval fiction keep an eye open ...
On this day 19th February 1408 the battle of Bramham Moor.
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, returned from exile in Scotland with promises of support in the north from Sir Thomas Rokeby.
It was a trap.
He was killed on the battlefield, beheaded, his head exhibited on London Bridge.
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, returned from exile in Scotland with promises of support in the north from Sir Thomas Rokeby.
It was a trap.
He was killed on the battlefield, beheaded, his head exhibited on London Bridge.
February 19, 2026 at 10:42 AM
On this day 19th February 1408 the battle of Bramham Moor.
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, returned from exile in Scotland with promises of support in the north from Sir Thomas Rokeby.
It was a trap.
He was killed on the battlefield, beheaded, his head exhibited on London Bridge.
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, returned from exile in Scotland with promises of support in the north from Sir Thomas Rokeby.
It was a trap.
He was killed on the battlefield, beheaded, his head exhibited on London Bridge.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. We have snow but fast disappearing.
February 19, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. We have snow but fast disappearing.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. These are an early delight in an unkempt corner of the garden. Woodpeckers drumming in all directions yesterday.
February 18, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. These are an early delight in an unkempt corner of the garden. Woodpeckers drumming in all directions yesterday.
On this day 17th February 1461 the 2nd Battle of St Albans, a victory for Queen Margaret and the Lancastrians when the Earl of Warwick, outnumbered, retreated.
Warwick's prisoner King Henry VI was discovered, by tradition, sitting under a tree, and restored to Margaret's care.
Warwick's prisoner King Henry VI was discovered, by tradition, sitting under a tree, and restored to Margaret's care.
February 17, 2026 at 11:43 AM
On this day 17th February 1461 the 2nd Battle of St Albans, a victory for Queen Margaret and the Lancastrians when the Earl of Warwick, outnumbered, retreated.
Warwick's prisoner King Henry VI was discovered, by tradition, sitting under a tree, and restored to Margaret's care.
Warwick's prisoner King Henry VI was discovered, by tradition, sitting under a tree, and restored to Margaret's care.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Another cloudless blue sky. Woodpeckers and goldfinches joining the usual cohorts on the bird feeders.
February 17, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Another cloudless blue sky. Woodpeckers and goldfinches joining the usual cohorts on the bird feeders.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Another splendid start to the day but it may not last. Looking good over towards Powys.
February 16, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Another splendid start to the day but it may not last. Looking good over towards Powys.
Today or yesterday or any other day at this time in February 1400 King Richard II, now deposed and imprisoned in Pontefract Castle, died. It was said from starvation or suicide. I doubt it was self-inflicted. His death was far too valuable an event for his cousin Henry IV.
February 15, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Today or yesterday or any other day at this time in February 1400 King Richard II, now deposed and imprisoned in Pontefract Castle, died. It was said from starvation or suicide. I doubt it was self-inflicted. His death was far too valuable an event for his cousin Henry IV.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A Valentine camellia picked for me yesterday from the garden. Perfect!😊💕
February 15, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A Valentine camellia picked for me yesterday from the garden. Perfect!😊💕
First Valentine.
Written by Margery Brews to John Paston III in 1477.
To my right well-beloved Valentine.
‘If you love me, as I trust verily you do, you will not leave me therefore. My heart bids me ever more to love you, truly over all earthly thing.’
Written by Margery Brews to John Paston III in 1477.
To my right well-beloved Valentine.
‘If you love me, as I trust verily you do, you will not leave me therefore. My heart bids me ever more to love you, truly over all earthly thing.’
February 14, 2026 at 10:40 AM
First Valentine.
Written by Margery Brews to John Paston III in 1477.
To my right well-beloved Valentine.
‘If you love me, as I trust verily you do, you will not leave me therefore. My heart bids me ever more to love you, truly over all earthly thing.’
Written by Margery Brews to John Paston III in 1477.
To my right well-beloved Valentine.
‘If you love me, as I trust verily you do, you will not leave me therefore. My heart bids me ever more to love you, truly over all earthly thing.’
What better way to mark Valentine's Day, than with the first 15th Century Valentine. Sent by Margery Brews, daughter of Sir Thomas Brews, Norfolk knight, to John Paston III.
Enjoy the whole story of the Paston-Brews letter here and in A Marriage of Fortune.
www.anneobrienbooks.com/a-fifteenth-...
Enjoy the whole story of the Paston-Brews letter here and in A Marriage of Fortune.
www.anneobrienbooks.com/a-fifteenth-...
February 14, 2026 at 9:23 AM
What better way to mark Valentine's Day, than with the first 15th Century Valentine. Sent by Margery Brews, daughter of Sir Thomas Brews, Norfolk knight, to John Paston III.
Enjoy the whole story of the Paston-Brews letter here and in A Marriage of Fortune.
www.anneobrienbooks.com/a-fifteenth-...
Enjoy the whole story of the Paston-Brews letter here and in A Marriage of Fortune.
www.anneobrienbooks.com/a-fifteenth-...
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The sun just appearing behind the oaks in a cloudless sky. Perfect!
February 14, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The sun just appearing behind the oaks in a cloudless sky. Perfect!
On This Day 12th February (or possibly 13th) 1371 was born Elizabeth Mortimer at Usk Castle.
Wife of Sir Henry (Hotspur) Percy, and then of Thomas, Lord Camoys.
Image of her on her tomb with Lord Camoys at Trotton in Sussex. Splendid headgear.
Wife of Sir Henry (Hotspur) Percy, and then of Thomas, Lord Camoys.
Image of her on her tomb with Lord Camoys at Trotton in Sussex. Splendid headgear.
February 12, 2026 at 10:50 AM
On This Day 12th February (or possibly 13th) 1371 was born Elizabeth Mortimer at Usk Castle.
Wife of Sir Henry (Hotspur) Percy, and then of Thomas, Lord Camoys.
Image of her on her tomb with Lord Camoys at Trotton in Sussex. Splendid headgear.
Wife of Sir Henry (Hotspur) Percy, and then of Thomas, Lord Camoys.
Image of her on her tomb with Lord Camoys at Trotton in Sussex. Splendid headgear.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The golden witch hazel in glorious full flower. Much earlier than past years.
February 12, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The golden witch hazel in glorious full flower. Much earlier than past years.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Snowdrops still rampaging through the shrubbery. A blessing on another grey day.
February 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Snowdrops still rampaging through the shrubbery. A blessing on another grey day.
The beautiful little Volka Chapel in the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Kingsland where by tradition prayers are still said for those who died on the battle field at Mortimer's Cross close by in 1461. A quiet 14th Century church in the Welsh Marches well worth a visit.
February 10, 2026 at 9:55 AM
The beautiful little Volka Chapel in the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Kingsland where by tradition prayers are still said for those who died on the battle field at Mortimer's Cross close by in 1461. A quiet 14th Century church in the Welsh Marches well worth a visit.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Still rain and gloom but here is the first camellia to open up in a glorious splash of colour .
February 10, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Still rain and gloom but here is the first camellia to open up in a glorious splash of colour .
The window in Winchester Cathedral to mark the marriage of King Henry IV to Joanna of Navarre, Duchess of Brittany in February 1403. Henry on one side, Joanna on the other, the miracle of turning water into wine in the centre.
February 8, 2026 at 9:41 AM
The window in Winchester Cathedral to mark the marriage of King Henry IV to Joanna of Navarre, Duchess of Brittany in February 1403. Henry on one side, Joanna on the other, the miracle of turning water into wine in the centre.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A hint of sunshine and no rain. Miraculous!
February 8, 2026 at 8:32 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A hint of sunshine and no rain. Miraculous!
On This Day 7th February 1403 King Henry IV married Joanna of Navarre in Winchester Cathedral in the newly rebuilt nave. The ceremony was conducted by Henry's half-brother, Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Lincoln, since the Bishop of Winchester, was too ill.
This is magnificent Winchester Cathedral.
This is magnificent Winchester Cathedral.
February 7, 2026 at 11:38 AM
On This Day 7th February 1403 King Henry IV married Joanna of Navarre in Winchester Cathedral in the newly rebuilt nave. The ceremony was conducted by Henry's half-brother, Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Lincoln, since the Bishop of Winchester, was too ill.
This is magnificent Winchester Cathedral.
This is magnificent Winchester Cathedral.
Excellent News for ebook Readers in the UK.
On Offer: A Court of Betrayal for only 99p.
Roger Mortimer, first Earl of March, begins his campaign for power.
Will his wife Johane de Geneville survive the treason?
www.amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...
On Offer: A Court of Betrayal for only 99p.
Roger Mortimer, first Earl of March, begins his campaign for power.
Will his wife Johane de Geneville survive the treason?
www.amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...
February 6, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Excellent News for ebook Readers in the UK.
On Offer: A Court of Betrayal for only 99p.
Roger Mortimer, first Earl of March, begins his campaign for power.
Will his wife Johane de Geneville survive the treason?
www.amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...
On Offer: A Court of Betrayal for only 99p.
Roger Mortimer, first Earl of March, begins his campaign for power.
Will his wife Johane de Geneville survive the treason?
www.amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...
On This Day 6th February 1381 or yesterday or a day thereabouts Henry Bolingbroke, later to be crowned Henry IV married Mary de Bohun who would be the mother of his 6 children.
This delightful little image of Mary comes from the Psalter created to mark the occasion of their marriage.
This delightful little image of Mary comes from the Psalter created to mark the occasion of their marriage.
February 6, 2026 at 9:47 AM
On This Day 6th February 1381 or yesterday or a day thereabouts Henry Bolingbroke, later to be crowned Henry IV married Mary de Bohun who would be the mother of his 6 children.
This delightful little image of Mary comes from the Psalter created to mark the occasion of their marriage.
This delightful little image of Mary comes from the Psalter created to mark the occasion of their marriage.
On This Day 6th February 1381 or yesterday or a day thereabouts Henry Bolingbroke, later to be crowned Henry IV married Mary de Bohun who would be the mother of his 6 children.
This delightful little image of Mary comes from the Psalter created to mark the occasion of their marriage.
This delightful little image of Mary comes from the Psalter created to mark the occasion of their marriage.
February 6, 2026 at 9:45 AM
On This Day 6th February 1381 or yesterday or a day thereabouts Henry Bolingbroke, later to be crowned Henry IV married Mary de Bohun who would be the mother of his 6 children.
This delightful little image of Mary comes from the Psalter created to mark the occasion of their marriage.
This delightful little image of Mary comes from the Psalter created to mark the occasion of their marriage.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Still raining and still looking wintry and waterlogged, but the snowdrops point the way to spring and the beech hedge is always vibrant.
February 6, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Still raining and still looking wintry and waterlogged, but the snowdrops point the way to spring and the beech hedge is always vibrant.
February Treats.
Excellent News for ebook Readers in the US.
On Offer: A Court of Betrayal for only 99c.
Snap it up now!
Roger Mortimer, first earl of March, begins his campaign for power. Will his wife Johane de Geneville survive?
www.amazon.com/Court-Betray...
Excellent News for ebook Readers in the US.
On Offer: A Court of Betrayal for only 99c.
Snap it up now!
Roger Mortimer, first earl of March, begins his campaign for power. Will his wife Johane de Geneville survive?
www.amazon.com/Court-Betray...
February 5, 2026 at 10:56 AM
February Treats.
Excellent News for ebook Readers in the US.
On Offer: A Court of Betrayal for only 99c.
Snap it up now!
Roger Mortimer, first earl of March, begins his campaign for power. Will his wife Johane de Geneville survive?
www.amazon.com/Court-Betray...
Excellent News for ebook Readers in the US.
On Offer: A Court of Betrayal for only 99c.
Snap it up now!
Roger Mortimer, first earl of March, begins his campaign for power. Will his wife Johane de Geneville survive?
www.amazon.com/Court-Betray...
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. We are once again in the middle of a Yellow Rain Warning until midnight tonight. At least these little pots are a cheerful sight to look forward to, if they are not washed away.
February 5, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. We are once again in the middle of a Yellow Rain Warning until midnight tonight. At least these little pots are a cheerful sight to look forward to, if they are not washed away.